Antitheft device for gasoline tanks



Japr4, 1938. F. E. M GILLICUDDY ET AL 2,104,132

ANTITHEFT DEVICE FOR GASOLINE TANKS Original Filed May 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inven lon: 6

Z2. M cua M 4 P M06 /r/e A Home Jan 4, 1938.

F. E. M GILLICUDDY ET AL 2,104,132

ANTITHEFT DEVICE FOR GASOLINE TANKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 27, 1955 00 OOOOOOOO p w i 0.0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o .o o

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o 0 o o o o o o O O o O O O I O O Inventors 3Z /'///ZacZcZ Flllll Mi? MOe/r/ek A Home};

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,104,132 ANTI'IHEFT DEVICE FOR GASOLINE TANKS Frank E. McGillicuddy and Martin P. Mockler, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 27,

1935, Serial No. 23,772

Renewed November 12, 1937 1 Claim.

This invention relates broadly to gasoline tanks of the type with which motor vehicles are pro vided for storing gasoline fed from such tanks to the internal combustion engine.

More particularly the invention is concerned with means for preventing the theft or unauthorized removal of gasoline from these tanks by syphoning or through any other method or apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an anti-theft device of this character which may be applied to the tank regardless of the position of the filling neck or spout, that is to say, .whether the filling neck or spout be either at the top or side of the tank.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a tank having a spout in the top thereof, and illustrating an application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the anti-theft device.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the gasoline tank having the filling spout at one end thereof and parts broken away to illustrate the appli cation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the anti-theft device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the antitheft device shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of still another form of the invention.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the antitheft device shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a plan view of still another form of anti-theft device.

Figure 10 is an end elevational view thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in each form of the invention the anti-theft device is in the form of a perforated plate adapted to be disposed in operative position to the filling neck of the tank in such a manner as to prevent a hose or the like being so inserted in the tank as to be used for drawing off the contents of the tank by syphoning or otherwise; and that the plate at at least one end thereof is provided with an upstanding wall so as to prevent the syphon tube being passed over the edge of the plate and into the tank.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the anti-theft device therein illustrated is particularly adapted for use with a gasoline tank of the type having the filling neck in the top thereof. Thus it will be seen that a portion of such a tank is illustrated and indicated by the reference numeral l. The neck of the tank is indicated by the reference numeral 2. The anti-theft device in this form of the invention is illustrated generally by the numeral 3.

In this first form of the invention the antitheft device is in the form of a pair of integral longitudinally spaced plates 6-43 provided with perforations as at I. The perforations 1 are in the form of elongated transverse slots arranged in longitudinal rows and disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinal middle of the plates. The side edges of the plate are provided with downturned flanges 8 through the medium of which the plates are secured in position, by welding or the like, within the tank.

At their inner or confronting edges, the plates 6 are connected by a divider 9. The divider 9 extends upwardly from the edges of the plates 6 and is integral with the edges of the plates as shown. This divider 9 is in the form of a pair of integral oppositely inclined plate-like members 9a which at the apex of the divider and at opposite ends of the divider have edges curving away from one another toward the ends of the plates 9a so as not to unduly interfere with the flow of the gasoline into the tank.

Also, each of the plates at its free edge is provided with an integral upstanding side In the upper edge of which, as best shown in Figure 2, is curved to conform to the curvature of the wall of the tank I. These sides I!) are also provided with perforations l l in the form of vertical elongated slots as also shown in Figure 2. The purpose of these slots H is to permit the air to escape as the tank is being filled with gasoline.

It will thus be seenthat with a device of this character, the tank I may be easily filled with gasoline but much difficulty will be encountered in attempting to syphon the fuel contents from the tank. Thus the device will serve admirably to prevent unauthorized removal of fuel from the tank.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive the anti-theft device therein indicated generally by the reference numeral I2 is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a fuel tank I3 having its filling neck l4 provided at one end thereof as shown in Figure 4.

The anti-theft device I2 is in the form. of an oblong plate l5, perforated, the perforations in this instance being in the form of small apertures IS. The plate l along its longitudinal edge is provided with down turned flanges I! through the medium of which the plate is secured by welding or in any other suitable manner within the tank I3 with one end edge of the plate 15 abutting the end wall of the tank from which the spout l 4 extends. At its opposite end the plate I5 is provided with an upstanding side flange I8 the upper edge of which is curved to conform to the dome or top of the tank I3, and the side or flange I8 is also provided with perforations IS in the form of holes similar to perforations l6. Thus it will be seen that with the anti-theft device I2 arranged in the tank as shown and described the tank may be filled in the usual manner but syphoning or unauthorized removal of the gasoline from the tank will be rendered difficult if not impossible. V

The remaining two forms of the invention as shown in Figures '7 and 8 and 9 and 10 respectively and indicated generally by the reference numerals 20 and 2! respectively are also adapted for use in the same manner as the anti-theft device l2.

The anti-theft device 20 is similar to the antitheft device l2 except that the perforations in the plate and side flange of the deviceZfl are in the form of elongated slots 22 and 23 respectively.

The anti-theft device 2| is also similar to the anti-theft device l2 except that while the perforations 24 are in the form of elongated slots, the plate of the anti-theft device 24 on the opposite side thereof, andadjacent one longitudinal edge of each slot 24 is provided with a depending baffle 26. The baflles 26 are formed by punching the slots 24 from the plate and bending the punched-out portions of the plate downwardly at an angle to the plate as illustrated. Also, in this form of the invention the endwall or side has its perforations 25 in the formI of small apertures as shown in Figure 10. V

It is thought that a clear understanding of the use and utility of the invention will be had without a further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An anti-theft device for fuel tanks provided with a filling opening in an end wall thereof, said anti-theft device being in the form of a perforated plate arranged Within the tank and having longitudinal flanges on its opposite side edges for securing to the walls of the tank at opposite sides of the tank, said plate having an end edge in abutting relation with the end wall of the tank equippedwith the filling opening, and a flange extending at right angles from the plate at the end thereof remote from said end wall and filling the space between said plate and the top wall of the tank said longitudinal flanges being curved transversely and said last-named flange having its upper edge curved longitudinally and all of the curved portions of said flanges conforming to the curvature of the Walls of the tank to snugly contact the tank throughout the entire perimeter of the plate. 7 v

FRANK MCGILLICUDDY. MAR'I'IN P. MOCKLER. 

